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Humboldt County Supervisors support $7.5 billion state water bond

EUREKA- The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors took a position of support today for a $7.5 billion state water bond measure.

Proposition 1, or the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, would allow the state to sell general obligation bonds to fund water projects.

Here on the north coast, Proposition 1 would guarantee $26.5 million to regional water projects, like developing water distribution systems and infrastructure for under funded communities.

Along with the allocation, local agencies would be able to compete for a share of nearly $600 million dollars for watershed protection, including restoration of the mad river basin.

If approved in November, the bond would cost taxpayers an average of $360 million annually over the next 40 years.

“We’re very pleased by the board's support of proposition 1. We think it's in the best interest of Humboldt County,” said Bruce Rupp, director at the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. “We as a board, the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District support Proposition 1. And while there may be some aspects of it that some of our residents here don't like. The overall benefit to the community here outweighs that so I think that's why the board supported it and we support the board's action of course.”